Page:History of the Supreme court of the United States (IA historyofsupreme00myeriala).pdf/582



Following Waite's death, considerable speculation was rife as to who would be appointed his successor. President Cleveland finally chose Melville W. Fuller, a Chicago lawyer, obscure so far as public reputation went and without judicial experience but well and favorably known in corporation circles. Like Cleveland, Fuller was a Democrat, but he was urged for the Chief Justiceship by both Republican and Democratic Senators and capitalists.

Among those particularly active at Washington assiduously working for his appointment was Colonel W. C. Goudy, an attorney for a large number of varied corporations. Goudy was counsel for the South Chicago Ratlway Company, the Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, the Illinois Central Railroad, the Indiana Banking Company, the Chicago Dock Company, and he was general counsel for the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company, for the Fremont and Elkhorn Railroad, and for the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad.

Senator John C. Spooner, of Wisconsin, a Republican, was energetic in Fuller's behalf; of Spooner's activities as a railroad lawyer we have given an adequate glimpse in the description of the case of Schulenberg vs. Harriman in the preceding chapter. The selection of Fuller was also approved by Robert T.